The University of Guelph’s Ontario Agricultural College has picked up support for a campaign aimed at ramping up OAC’s student recruitment efforts.
OAC’s Class of 1953 has raised almost $64,000 for the campaign, while Monsanto Canada has kicked in $100,000 for recruitment and awareness efforts, OAC said in a release Thursday.
The recruitment campaign, announced Monday by OAC dean Rob Gordon, will feature “several” new programs to promote the benefits of OAC study; to create capacity for current students to become “actively engaged” in recruitment as part of their leadership training; and to co-ordinate opportunities with organizations such as 4-H to create “broader awareness” of career opportunities for OAC grads.
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Feed Grains Weekly: Price likely to keep stepping back
As the harvest in southern Alberta presses on, a broker said that is one of the factors pulling feed prices lower in the region. Darcy Haley, vice-president of Ag Value Brokers in Lethbridge, added that lower cattle numbers in feedlots, plentiful amounts of grass for cattle to graze and a lacklustre export market also weighed on feed prices.
“Demand for graduates trained in agricultural science disciplines continues to increase as the industry works to provide solutions for global challenges such as a safe and secure food supply, environmental protection, diminishing resources and sustainable communities,” OAC said Thursday.
“At the same time, enrollment in post-secondary agriculture programs across North America has declined in recent years, resulting in challenges for existing and emerging human resource needs.”
“It’s an extremely exciting period to be considering a career in our agriculture and food related industries,” Gordon said in OAC’s release.